NY Jets, 888 & MGM Sign Landmark Sports Betting Deals

By Ken Edwards, 11 November 2018

Only days after the New Jersey Devils signed a sports betting agreement with British bookmaker, William Hill, the NFL’s New York Jets have completed joint gaming deals with MGM and 888.com Casino. After many years at loggerheads with the state of New Jersey over the legalization sports betting, the NFL and NHL have wasted no time in jumping on the lucrative sports betting wagon.

In the last two weeks alone, the New York Jets have secured gambling partnerships as a result of the NFL relaxing its rules regarding such agreements. Just like the state of New Jersey jumping quickly to enact legal sports betting, the Jets acted quickly and have signed deals with two online gaming companies.

The New York Jets are now officially in partnership with MGM Resorts International and 888.com. Both sports betting companies are heavily involved in the New Jersey sports betting and online gambling markets, with 888sport launching in September following 888casino and 888poker.

The Jets and MGM

MGM Resorts International is now the official gaming partner of the Jets completing a comprehensive gaming partnership, and the first deal of its kind to go beyond a casino sponsorship.

The partnership with the Jets gives fans access to an enhanced and integrated mobile game that can be played through the team’s app, named ‘I Called It – presented by Play MGM’.

‘I Called It’ will feature in-play betting options, pre-game odds, games and special offers and a range of methods for tracking fans betting progress on interactive leaderboards. MGM marketing signage at MetLife Stadium is also included in the landmark deal.

MGM Resorts will also sponsor the Jets’ production studio at the team’s home base, and the Play MGM Studio will be the year-long multimedia base for all of the team’s social media content. The casino giant will also provide luxury rooms and hospitality opportunities for Jets season-ticket holders and Jets Rewards members at all of its land-based casino resorts across the United States.

The Jets and 888.com

The NFL recently relaxed its position on gambling advertisements, allowing for teams to sign partnerships with casinos that offer sports betting. However, NFL teams are not supposed to be permitted to sponsor sports betting directly, or to share revenue with sportsbooks. The MetLife Stadium’s 888.com banner hanging on the side of MetLife Stadium waltzes a fine legal line, but neatly and conveniently, doesn’t cross it.

Ahead of the start of the 2018-19 season, following pressure from team owners, the NFL announced it would relax its ban on casino advertising. The Baltimore Ravens and the Dallas Cowboys have also seized upon the opportunity.

Whilst the Jets’ 888 banners do not specifically advertise the sports betting site of 888.com, they re-direct interested parties the online company’s website, where there are football graphics and links to 888 products. The firm’s customers in New Jersey are now access a number of 888 products from a single login.